Tesla Was Cash Flow Positive Last Week, CEO Musk Says

Post by twoodfin » Wed, Dec 05, 2012, 3:56 PM UTC

pm90 wrote: post #27

twoodfin wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just for future reference, what's the benchmark for calling Romney's prediction accurate? Do they have to liquidate or is it enough that they fail to be able to continue to independently deliver cars to the market? I'd love it if Tesla would succeed sheerly because their product seems so slick, but I agree with Romney that the government is a lousy institution to be picking companies that "should" get half-billion do…

Well, they are not the same thing but: the govt. did invest in creating the ARPANET, and the DOE still counts as one of the largest customers of supercomputers. If the Govt. invests in new tech. areas that the private sector is unwilling/unsure of investing for the purpose of pushing the industry ahead, I don't really see anything wrong with that.

Post by jeremyarussell » Wed, Dec 05, 2012, 4:01 PM UTC

j2bax wrote: post #11

rikf wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you would be surprised I think Tesla's strategy has three stages. 1) Niche high cost vehicle sold in low volumes(Roadster) 2) Medium cost luxury vehicle sold in medium volumes(Model S) 3) Low cost high volume vehicle sold in high volumes. (Model ???) Obviously this is a gross over simplification but I imagine that part of the engineering that is going on at TESLA is figuring out how to build 3 cheaper and at…

I am aware of their strategy, I just worry that the big automakers with their massive distribution and infrastructures already in place could easily come in and be 10 steps ahead of Tesla and provide a vehicle that isn't as sexy but has the same appeal to the electric car market. I could be overestimating their ability to innovate after so many years of sitting on the same old tired technology, but something tells me…

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Dec 05, 2012, 4:03 PM UTC

jervisfm wrote: post #30

perry5000 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cash flow positive != profitable

What is the difference between the two ? Don't you need to have a net positive flow in order to be profitable ?

Post by daliusd » Wed, Dec 05, 2012, 4:07 PM UTC

alxndr wrote: post #17

j2bax wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am aware of their strategy, I just worry that the big automakers with their massive distribution and infrastructures already in place could easily come in and be 10 steps ahead of Tesla and provide a vehicle that isn't as sexy but has the same appeal to the electric car market. I could be overestimating their ability to innovate after so many years of sitting on the same old tired technology, but something tells me…

"the big automakers ... could easily come in and be 10 steps ahead of Tesla and provide a vehicle that isn't as sexy but has the same appeal to the electric car market" Aren't they already trying to do that? Chevy's Volt, Nissan's Leaf, Ford apparently makes a fully PEV Focus now, as does Honda with a version of the Fit, and Toyota's gotta be working on the Prius...

Post by ChuckMcM » Wed, Dec 05, 2012, 4:08 PM UTC

jervisfm wrote: post #30

perry5000 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cash flow positive != profitable

What is the difference between the two ? Don't you need to have a net positive flow in order to be profitable ?